After Jeff finished his shift, he headed towards his quarters, he had to walk past the girl's quarters and stopped and with his thought was only on one person Lisa.
He knocked on the door and Cinda answered it "Hi Jeff"
"Hay Cinda, Lisa there?"
"No she not"
"Do you know where she is?"
"Sorry Jeff I don't"
"Oh, ok thanks Cinda"
Jeff walked away from Lisa quarter's wondering where she was and then it suddenly occurred to him where. I'm coming Lisa.
Jeff ran all the way to the supply rooms to find Lisa waiting for him.
"Hay there"
"Hay yourself"
Jeff looked at Lisa, admiring her beauty, slender body and her brown eyes. It was her eyes that won Jeff heart and the more Jeff got to know Lisa, he knew that he was falling in love for her and was annoyed at the fact that there relationship had to be kept a secret but then again he would risk a court martial so that way they didn't have to sneak around like this.
Lisa walked over to Jeff and put her arms around him and they both looked into each other's eyes seeing the love that the other had. Jeff leaned forward and gently kissed her and pulled her close to him.
"I love you Lisa" Jeff said
"I love you too"
They kissed again but this time the kiss was so full of passion that they decided to let nature run it course.
The next morning Jeff and Lisa made there way up to there quarter's after there night of passion with each other and before leaving Jeff gave Lisa a kiss and went to his quarter's to shower, shave and put a fresh uniform on and headed up to the bridge for duty. I hope Commander Hawkins is in a better mood today I know I am, that was until he walked onto the bridge and the Commander was yelling at the repair crew. Nope he's in a worse mood……… if that's possible.
"What's going on?" he whispered to sparks
"The repair crew damaged the stellar cable last night and now we can't even receive messages at all" sparks replied quietly
"Great" Jeff said in weary voice.
"JEFF" yelled the commander
"Yes sir" he replied hastily
"Get Cliff's team out on patrol, Cric's team I want out there helping with repairs and the rest of air team doing maintenance on there ships and they can also do the sea team ships as well" he barked out his order.
"Yes Sir" Jeff replied, and issued the order and would have given anything to be with his team then to put up with the commander wrath.
The Commander was under a lot pressure and the mood reflected upon the rest of the bridge crew. He spent the best part of the morning yelling at the repair crew to get the repairs done, Cliff team thought it would be safe to stay on patrol and Cric's team did the same for maintenance as did for the air team.
Jeff managed to pass on to the commander that voltron was now fully operational. That managed to lighten his spirits a little but he was still in a bad mood and also tired.
"Commander" Jeff said tentatively
"Yes Jeff" he said hoarsely
"Sir, um….why don't you go and get some ummm….rest and I will look after things"
Hawkins shot him a stare. "I don't need rest"
"But sir…"
"But nothing"
"Commander if we get attacked we need and you're no use to us like this"
"Like what Jeff" he replied getting angrier
"Sir your tired and cranky and everyone is on edge, you need a break" Jeff replied firmly
Commander Hawkins looked around at his crew all waiting nervously for the next round. They are on edge; I guess Jeff is right I cannot go on like this.
He sighed and lowered his head. "Your right Jeff"
"Sir I can look after things, have a break and I will stay here and keep things going" Jeff said quietly to him.
The Commander got up and turned and places a hand on Jeff shoulder's "Thank you Jeff" and walked off the Bridge.
A few hours' later Commander Hawkins wakes up feeling a little rested and has a shower and made his way up to the Bridge.
"How are the repairs going?" He asked Jeff
"Really good sir, the retro jets are at 70, they estimate about another seven hours for full completion. The Hull is at 75, estimates say about another five hours. Radar not so good estimate to be tomorrow and communication are still down but they are trying to repair short wave communication in the hope of maybe reaching our base on Planet Noden.
Sea team is out on patrol, land team is resting and air team is doing there maintenance. I have scheduled Land team for patrol in two hours and my team will go up after they had a rest sir"
"Good work Jeff" Hawkins replied in an impressive voice. "Go get some rest"
"Yes sir"
Jeff left the Bridge and Hawkins was left there to continue his work. Jeff did an amazing job in my absence, he's got a big future in the alliance, its kinda funny though in some ways he reminds me a bit of me when I was a fighter pilot.
"Any word on the explorer yet?" Captain Keyo asked
"No sir" replied the young ensign
"Inform galaxy garrison at once"
"Yes sir"
Captain Keyo went out to welcome the supply ships and informed there captains despite all attempts to communicate with the explorer they have been unsuccessful and that there orders were to stay on Noden until the explorer has arrived.
Even though retro jets were repaired, Commander Hawkins wanted the Hull completed before they moved incase of an attack. The drules know we are very vulnerable.
A couple of more days passed and Jeff entered the commanders office and informed him that they can established communication on the short wave band but long range is still out, radar is working and the hull is completely repaired.
Great.
He went up to the Bridge and ordered a course set for Planet Noden and also established communications with them.
"You have had everyone worried about you and your crew Commander" Captain Keyo said
"The explorer took a lot of damage in our last battle and we have been working around the clock to have her repaired but unfortunately she still needs work done."
"The alliance has ordered us to give the explorer some updates sir"
"Really"
"Yes but I will inform you of those when you arrive. When can we expect you?"
"We should be there in a couple of days if all goes well"
"Alright then, I will inform galaxy garrison about your situation, see you soon Hawkins" and with that communications ended and the explorer was on her way Noden
Back at galaxy garrison Commander Steele raced up to Space Marshall Grahams office to tell him of the news that the explorer has made communications with Planet Noden on the short wave band, long range is still out but she is on her way to Noden and is expected to be there in a couple of days.
Space Marshall Graham sighed in relief knowing the explorer is alright and gave orders to Commander Steel to send to Noden for the explorer and her crew once she got there.
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News of the trip to Noden quickly spread through out the explorer like wild fire and the crew was anticipating time for some R&R while the explorer got its updates.
Jeff was on the bridge with Commander Hawkins who was in a much better mood then the previous few days. He guessed the stress must be getting to him and with crew numbers low as well as supplies, things are hard but once they are on Noden supplies will be replenished and some rest.
Commander Hawkins was in a deep thought, he made a special request to galaxy garrison for extended shore leave and more crew and hasn't herd back yet. I hope they grant this request everyone really needs this. This constant need to be on high alert and getting the repairs done has taken its toll on everyone especially the voltron force.
"Marshall Keezor" said Captain Twila with excitement
"Yes Captain Twila" He replied
"Sir we have finally located the explorer"
"Excellent" and said with an evil smile on his face. "Twila, I want you to take the new robeast and lead the attack against the explorer and voltron"
"It will be my pleasure sir" saluted, turned and marched out towards her command ship with a battle plan already in mind and that she was sure it would finally defeat voltron.
On the bridge of her ship she gave the order to lunch, destination the explorer. I finally have a way to get rid of Hawkins and the voltron force and show them what happens to people who hold me as a captive.